Search - The Far Country on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1955 DVD Release: 05/06/2003 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 37 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Western, Psychological Western

One of the most entertaining of the Western movies to come out of the 1950s, this is a Stewart vehicle in which he must take on the ruthlessness of the frontier. Set in the Yukon, Stewart and his friends are driving cattle to market from Wyoming to Canada, where the boom towns pay top dollar for beef. When they arrive in Skagway, the corrupt sheriff of the town (John McIntire) steals the cattle and Stewart et al are forced to fight for their herd. Together with the female saloon keeper of another town (Ruth Roman), they find themselves up against an evil they were not prepared for. When Stewart's friend (portrayed by Walter Brennan) is killed, he is forced to go up against the evil sheriff. Good versus evil in incredible Yukon settings makes this an above average Western. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

James Stewart - Jeff Webster
Ruth Roman - Ronda Castle
Corinne Calvet - Renee Vallon
Walter Brennan - Ben Tatem
John McIntire - Mr. Gannon

Anthony Mann's The Far Country (1955) was one of the last westerns of its scope and budget to be shot in the old, pre-widescreen aspect ratio (i.e., 1.33-to-1), and for that reason it has always translated very well to the small screen. It's also shot in Technicolor, but in contrast to the DVD of Mann's Bend of the River, released the same day as this, the color composition on The Far Country is much more naturalistic. The disc represents the sprawling Pacific Northwest outdoor adventure tale in fine form, the muted color tones captured in the transfer giving the movie an intensely realistic feel -- the source print is also in very good shape, apart from some apparent frame damage at just over 16 minutes in. The 20 chapters cover the plot well and, where possible, land on dissolves to black. The movie comes with a somewhat overheated trailer that doesn't dwell on the characterizations or portrayals, accessible through a two-layer menu that opens automatically on start-up. There are also French, Spanish, and English subtitles and captions, for those who need them. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide